Singapore is stepping up its push to build an AI-ready workforce, with the Infocomm Media Development Authority (IMDA) announcing plans to upskill 40,000 tech professionals and final-year Information and Digital Technologies (IDT) students over the next three years under the National AI Impact Programme (NAIIP).
The initiative marks one of the country’s largest efforts to strengthen AI fluency across the technology sector as businesses increasingly integrate artificial intelligence into software engineering, operations, and decision-making processes.
As part of the move, IMDA will expand its TechSkills Accelerator (TeSA) programme through new partnerships with industry bodies and employers to ensure training remains aligned with rapidly evolving AI-driven job roles.
The authority will also co-lead a new workgroup with Workforce Singapore (WSG), alongside the Singapore Computer Society (SCS), SGTech, and the Tech Talent Assembly (TTAB), to study how AI is reshaping the future of work in the tech industry.
The announcement comes as Singapore accelerates efforts to strengthen its digital economy ambitions and build a pipeline of future-ready talent. It also complements the government’s earlier commitment under NAIIP to train 100,000 non-tech professionals to become “AI bilingual” by 2029.
Central to the latest push is the launch of AIxTech, a new AI fluency programme developed jointly by IMDA and AI Singapore.
The programme is designed to equip tech professionals with both technical and responsible AI skills across the software engineering lifecycle.
The curriculum was created with input from more than 30 technology firms, AI Centres of Excellence, government agencies, and Institutes of Higher Learning. Organisations including NCS, ST Engineering, OCBC, and Standard Chartered have already expressed interest in enrolling employees in the programme.
AIxTech will offer participants access to several leading AI coding tools, including Claude, Codex, GitHub Copilot, Gemini, Kiro, GLM, and Agnes. The programme will be delivered in two phases.
The first phase will feature 10 self-paced online modules comprising 18 hours of hands-on coding workflow training. The second phase will provide continued learning support, including S$600 credits for AI coding tools, access to virtual and physical learning communities, and advanced training modules.
Participants will also receive training in responsible AI development using governance frameworks and testing toolkits from the IMDA AI Verify Foundation.
The course will cost S$180 for Singapore citizens and permanent residents working in tech roles, while final-year IDT students will be able to attend free of charge. Self-sponsored learners may also use SkillsFuture Credit and NTUC’s Union Training Assistance Programme (UTAP) to offset fees.
Alongside workforce upskilling, IMDA also announced the addition of 21 new Singapore Digital Leaders (SGDLs), bringing the country’s tech leadership community to more than 1,600 members since the Singapore Digital Leadership Accelerator (SGDLA) was launched in 2022.
Among the newly recognised leaders are Shanice Choo, who is driving AI-powered innovation in the legal sector, and Lum Chune Yang, who is developing quantum and satellite infrastructure aimed at strengthening cybersecurity resilience.
The initiatives were announced by Tan Kiat How at the Singapore Computer Society’s gala dinner at the Shangri-La Hotel.